The “Unspeakable” Fritchey: Corruption in Harrisburg? Eh, nothing new.

June 30, 2014 | by M. Diane McCormick

Ed. Note: Currently, a grand jury is investigating activities associated with Harrisburg’s near-bankruptcy. The city, however, has had a long history of corruption and dubious actions undertaken by colorful politicians. Gilded Age Mayor John A. Fritchey is a terrific example, as our writer relates in this article adapted from a recent lecture she gave for Historic Harrisburg Association.

Before City Beautiful, Harrisburg had “City Ugly” and a three-time mayor named John A. Fritchey.

John Fritchey was an upstanding citizen and corrupt to the core. A populist reformer allied with the state Capitol’s rotten political rings. A beloved physician who performed “illegal operations”—Gilded Age code for abortions.

To his friends, Fritchey was a powerful man who dispensed welcomed favors and patronage. To reformers such as City Beautiful founder J. Horace McFarland, he was “the unspeakable Fritchey.”

Fritchey was an up-from-the-streets success story, born on the eve of the Civil War to a butcher who achieved middle-class status and sent his sons to Harrisburg Academy and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. In the 1888 mayor’s race, the Harrisburg Patriot endorsed this promising City Council member, “a young man of ability and integrity,” who, the newspaper claimed, would not serve the corrupt rings running the city and county.

As mayor elected in 1888, 1893 and 1898, Fritchey established police and ambulance systems. He calmly directed rescue efforts during such emergencies as a May 1889 deluge that was also rumored to have caused “terrible destruction of property at Johnstown.” He ably managed the mayor’s “quick charity” fund that aided the destitute.

But Fritchey and his cronies also made sure that the quick charity fund and other revenue streams aided the not-so-destitute. Owners of speakeasies, gambling houses and brothels paid for police protection. Legitimate business owners wrote personal checks to Fritchey for the privilege of operating. Street peddlers paid “licensing fees” to the mayor and the police chief. Fines and fees went into envelopes that were deposited through a slot in the mayor’s desk.

In one instance, Fritchey convinced a grocer not to press charges against some misguided young ruffians who stole about $600. Before handing the grocer the recovered money, Fritchey peeled off a few bills for himself.

Fritchey was in his third term when Mira Lloyd Dock shocked Harrisburg’s businessmen out of their complacency with her photographic presentation comparing their garbage-strewn town to cities where manicured public spaces nurtured civic pride and thriving commerce. As City Beautiful gained steam, Fritchey conceded that a park wasn’t a bad idea, but his tepid support for a $1 million bond issue to fund improvements cooled even further when he learned that the money would be controlled by an independent authority.

In the days leading up to the inauguration of his successor, Fritchey’s clerk was seen burning ledgers in a furnace.

The next mayor was the reform-minded Vance McCormick, privileged son of a banking and iron manufacturing family. After his first few months in office, McCormick noticed that the $2,000 in fines his administration had collected dwarfed the $178.14 from the three years of Fritchey’s final term. McCormick reported to City Council that $1,282.42 in fees and $1,159.42 in fines were unaccounted for.

Fritchey was shocked that money put into the “supposedly trustworthy hands” of his subordinates didn’t make its way into city coffers.

The mayor had few executive powers, and McCormick could only wheedle Select Council—a sort of upper chamber in the bicameral City Council—into holding hearings on his reported findings. A subcommittee eventually ruled that Fritchey was responsible only for $686.51 in missing funds.

The Select Council chairman dismissed calls for further investigations. “You can’t dig up old things without having further odors,” he said.

Without fanfare, Fritchey paid the $686.51. In 1905, he ran for mayor again. He lost and never again ran for office, but that didn’t stop the intrigue.

First, there was his colorful personal life.

Fritchey’s first marriage fell apart when his wife had an affair with his chauffeur. He later briefly married the beautiful, much-younger Eleanor Shoop, building her an ornate brownstone mansion at 911 N. 2nd St., which still stands today. The 1906 building later became a frat house, then the Reese Funeral Home and now is Mayor’s Manor, the condo and apartment building recently restored by Chris and Erica Bryce.

Secondly, there was his professional life.

As a physician, Fritchey was well known for taking groceries to struggling families or declining to bill those in need. As for illegal abortions, people always knew where to go when a wife, daughter or sister was in trouble, and the railroad town of Harrisburg was convenient for women needing a secret operation. The sympathetic Fritchey would have understood the devastating impact of pregnancies on impoverished families or abused women. Maybe he also engaged in the lucrative practice because his second wife reportedly expected the finer things in life.

On Christmas Eve 1912, an 18-year-old milliner’s apprentice named Jessie Stroup died in Philadelphia. The physician and the magistrate called to her deathbed coaxed from her the details of an abortion performed a month earlier by Dr. John A. Fritchey, former mayor of Harrisburg. But the magistrate declined to declare her words as an official “ante-mortem”—the dying declaration that could be used in court against the perpetrator.

A constable named Saleranco escorted Fritchey and Jessie Stroup’s boyfriend, Jonathan Kerstetter, from Harrisburg to Philadelphia to face charges. Kerstetter couldn’t post bail and went straight to jail. The accommodating Saleranco posted bail for Fritchey.

It wasn’t the only string Fritchey would pull to stay out of jail. He was charged with performing an abortion on Stroup and on another woman from Chambersburg. His March 1913 grand jury hearing in Harrisburg featured 24 witnesses, but, as the proceedings neared the end, the Harrisburg Patriot reported rumors of “embracery,” also known as jury-fixing, practiced among “men active in politics.” The grand jury declared “not a true bill,” clearing Fritchey of all charges.

Fritchey continued practicing medicine (although it’s not known if he continued performing abortions). He died from heart and liver disease in August 1916, at the age of 59.

“The personal reminiscences of the ex-mayor, if put to paper, would have made one of the most interesting chapters in Dauphin County’s political history,” read one glowing obituary. “At one time, he swayed City Council, had a big influence in the school board and dictated terms to the county commissioners . . . He had political enemies and hosts of sincere friends and admirers.”

Diane McCormick adapted this article from her lecture entitled, “City Ugly: Mayor John Fritchey and the Deliciously Dark Side of City Beautiful.” A chance encounter with a 1912 account of the former mayor’s arrest for an “illegal operation” led her to research his life and times for her master’s degree in creative nonfiction from Goucher College.

Boy Meets Parking: Can you put a price on love? Yes, it’s $3 an hour.

June 30, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

I have a confession to make: I’ve fallen in love.

It’s not your typical romance, and some people might even regard it as unnatural or perverse. But, as they say, the heart knows what it wants, so I beg your forgiveness if you find my desire offensive.

I have fallen for Harrisburg’s new parking system.

It’s a flawed love, as all love is, and it comes at a cost. But, as many guys know, beauty often extracts a high price.

In the Beginning

Where do I start about my love? Well, as with all love stories, it’s best to start at the beginning.

When I moved to Harrisburg, I was surprised by the ugly, obsolete parking regimen. Squat gray meters stood like elderly soldiers in rows along downtown streets, accepting not credit cards, not even paper money, but only change. Sure, the cost was reasonable—$1.50 an hour—but who carried around buckets of quarters to feed the old guys?

As I’d soon learn, my reaction was so, so naive. Only chumps actually put money into the things, I was told. Enforcement was so lax that people never bothered paying at all. On the rare occasion you’d get a ticket, it was 14 bucks if you paid it within three days, an acceptable cost of doing business.

That is, if you could find parking at all.

The old system created a perverse incentive for long-term parkers to hog spots on the street. Heck, the day rate for downtown garage parking was more expensive than paying the ticket. So, by 8 a.m., early-rising state employees, construction guys and restaurant workers already had sidled into the limited street parking, where they stayed until their days were done.

Looking to bolt downtown for a quick lunch or to grab a coffee? Good luck finding a place to put your car.

Falling

In March, this all began to change as the new operator, SP+, took over from the city authority and ripped out the mechanical coin-ops, replacing them with a digital, multi-space system. The rates also doubled, to a hefty $3 an hour, and tickets skyrocketed to $30 per violation—$50 after four days.

It was part of the deal to relieve Harrisburg of hundreds of millions of dollars of debt, while providing it with about $5 million of new revenue a year.

At the time, I was as skeptical as anyone and avoided downtown for a week or so. I had heard the first reports—people didn’t understand the system, had been dinged with big fines, couldn’t find the new parking office to pay the tickets they got—and they weren’t good.

But, one day, I couldn’t avoid it anymore. I had errands to run and a growing McGrath’s craving to sate, so I took off down Front Street from our Uptown office.

Turning onto Locust Street, I knew something was different. There was parking, plenty of it. So, I did something impossible before—pulled into a spot directly in front of the restaurant. I walked a few feet to the new meter and immediately bumped into a parking attendant, who guided me through the process.

It was simple. I put in my license plate number, the amount of time I wanted and my credit card. It was the first time I didn’t have to dig for quarters, regret I had none and scurry to the nearest bank to get a roll (yes, I had remained a law-abiding, quarter-toting chump).

There was even a field to key in my cell number so, when the meter was low, the system could send me an alert, allowing me to top off remotely. Running late, I did just that, and—oh my Lord—it actually worked. Also, I learned that, when you buy time, you’re not renting a designated space. You can move your vehicle anywhere within the on-street system as long as you have money in the system.

To me, this was a thing of beauty, a virtual parking supermodel.

So, now, for a few extra bucks, I get to park where I want, when I want. I can use a credit card. I can add time through my cell phone. I’m no longer so weighed down with quarters that I look like a home plate umpire who’s just stocked up on baseballs.

Pull In

I know that not everyone shares my affection.

Some people preferred the old way. They liked cheap, even though the broken-down, inconvenient system was run incompetently and ate your quarters almost as often as it tallied them. It offered nothing to the city and little to its customers—not even the parking that was its only product.

Yes, I realize that restaurant and shop employees have suffered under the added expense. However, the parking operator and some business owners are making accommodations for lower-wage workers. There are even discounted garage rates for downtown residents who only need to park at night and weekends.

Indeed, there are always bumps in a new relationship. You find out that your beloved chews like a cow or snores loudly or charges on Saturdays. But you make adjustments because the thought of not being with him or her or not eating Suba’s fish tacos is just too horrible to bear.

So, now I’m going to say something weird(er): Give my love a try. Several restaurant owners have complained that their happy hour business is down because customers are waiting until 7 p.m. to go out so they won’t have to pay for parking.

That’s so silly! Please, go at 6, park wherever you want, put $3 on your card, and get some great happy hour deals.

I think you’ll find that my beloved has these great, big open spaces and friendly, accepting payment methods. She’s eager to please. So, just pull in and give her a go.

Cats & Town: In Steelton, a community came together to solve a multiplying problem.

June 30, 2014 | by Amy Worden

When Maria Marcinko took office as a Steelton borough councilwoman in 2010, the community had a budget-draining problem on its hands: feral cats, hundreds of them. Many were starving or sick. They fought and howled and knocked over trashcans. And they reproduced prolifically.

The borough had been contracting with an animal control company that trapped the cats and took them to Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, where virtually all were promptly euthanized. Taxpayers were on the hook for thousands of dollars, and Marcinko was tasked with finding a solution.

“It was costing us $138 per cat, or $26,000 to $27,000 a year for animal control,” said Marcinko. “I didn’t know anything about TNR, but I decided we would take care of our own.”

TNR stands for “Trap, Neuter, Return,” a strategy that is being adopted by a growing number of communities seeking to address cat overpopulation. The idea sounds simple: trap the feral cats, get them sterilized and vaccinated and return them to the place where you found them.

But it takes community buy-in. Such an effort needs volunteers, traps, a way to provide low- or no-cost spay/neuter surgeries and people to care for colonies. A community also needs sympathetic property owners who won’t evict the cats.

Steelton went whole hog on the idea and, by all accounts, it has paid off.

In early 2010, Marcinko sent out the notice of the first community meeting about the cats with the monthly water bills. Soon, there was a core of several dozen volunteers. For a borough struggling with economic distress and blight, things came together quickly for the cat ladies and their cause.

They found a generous veterinarian, Diane Ford of Campbelltown, who agreed to work at reduced rates and began applying for grants to pay for medical services.

When group members realized they needed a building to house cats awaiting surgery and a place to perform the procedure, the Steelton Community Development Foundation gave them use of an old bank building. When they needed extra help to paint and repair the building, Dauphin County Courts agreed to assign offenders sentenced to community service to that duty—an arrangement that carries on to this day.

Several months ago, standing in what was once the president’s office of the former Mellon Bank, Rosemary Loncar showed off the group’s surgical suite to several visitors. Sitting next to the marble-framed fireplace with the walnut paneling was a stainless steel operating table, an anesthesia machine and shelves for medical supplies.

From here, the group runs monthly spay/neuter clinics serving an average of 60 cats over two days. So far this year, after getting a late start because of the harsh winter, the group has fixed 200 cats, preventing the births of hundreds of more unwanted kittens.

“The problem is caused by humans,” said Loncar, who learned about feral cat care-taking a decade ago when her mother called her desperate and in tears because the number of cats she was feeding was multiplying, and she could no longer afford the food.

The act of abandoning un-spayed and un-neutered cats in a community can turn from a few stray animals wandering the streets into an unmanageable colony in no time, with female cats producing as many as three litters of kittens a year.

Traditional methods of cat control usually involve trapping and end with euthanasia for the often-untamed animals, but, inevitably, not all cats are caught, and those removed create a void quickly filled by other cats. TNR allows sterilized populations to live out their lives without fear of further reproduction.

“We know the program works,” said Loncar, who retired from her state government job in 2004. “It takes time.”

Kittens—and sometimes an adult cat if they are socialized—can be adopted to permanent homes, and the volunteers contact Castaway Critters, Compassionate Hearts and other rescue groups to place them. When they find cats that are declawed, blind, deaf or too injured or sick to live outdoors, they send them to The Best Little Cat House, an area feline hospice.

Loncar invited me to observe feeding time at one of the two colonies she tends, totaling about 25 cats. On a raw Sunday afternoon early this year, she approached the wooded area with two plates of cat chow. Suddenly, the brush on the hillsides started moving as cats, one by one, began making their way to the feeding area.

Colony caretakers are loath to identify the locations—and there are about 20 currently in Steelton—out of fear that more cats would be dropped off there or that someone might hurt the animals.

Loncar calls each one by name. Murphy, an orange tabby, lounges on a car hood and Peaches, a striking, long-haired tortoise shell cat, trots across the street. They live in tarp-covered Styrofoam boxes used to ship medical supplies that are filled with straw. Loncar also has set up covered feeding stations so the cats have a protected place to eat in bad weather.

As it marked its four-year anniversary in February, Steelton Community Cats celebrated the successful spaying and neutering of more than 3,000 cats, including many from the neighboring municipalities of Swatara Township and Highspire.

Steelton weathered an economic beating with the collapse of Bethlehem Steel. It watched its population shrink and still combats blight in its neighborhoods. But, now, the gritty borough along the Susquehanna River has an award-winning animal health and welfare program to be proud of that not only has saved lives but has saved money.

The total bill for the citizens of Steelton for cat control in 2013? Zero. Total taxpayer savings? About $100,000.

The borough also has gained control of its cat population, even enlisting support of employees of ArcelorMittal, the steelmaker now occupying the site of the old Bethlehem Steel plant, which helps with trapping, said Loncar.

The Steelton success has led nearby Swatara and Derry townships to start their own TNR programs, and the program’s volunteers are fielding calls from communities around the country seeking help.

Loncar says the group hopes it can show other communities that there is a way to address out-of-control cat populations without resorting to “trap and kill” methods or punitive ordinances such as bans on feeding outdoor cats or cat licensing requirements, as several municipalities across Pennsylvania have proposed in the last year.

For its groundbreaking work, Steelton Community Cats has won accolades from Alley Cat Allies, a national feral cat advocacy group and the Central Penn Business Journal, which last year named it the most innovative non-profit group in the region.

And Loncar says property owners are noticing that managed cat colonies help reduce another less attractive animal population: rodents.

“We had one minister tell us he’s happy because he doesn’t see mice in the church kitchen anymore,” said Loncar.

For more information on Steelton Community Cats, to donate supplies or funding or to volunteer, visit the group’s website at www.steeltoncats.org or call 717-877-4146. The next spay/neuter clinic is July 24 and 25.

Community Corner: Notable Events in July

June 30, 2014 | by Admin

Free HSO Concerts

July 3-7: Join the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra in a musical celebration of the American veteran during the 2014 Summer Concert Series. All five concerts are free and outdoors, so bring a lawn chair or a blanket. The July 3 concert will take place at Lebanon Valley College at 8 p.m.; July 4 at Negley Park at 8 p.m.; July 5 at City Island at 7:30 p.m.; July 6 at Dickinson College at 7:30 p.m.; July 7 at Millerstown Community Park at 7:30 p.m. Visit harrisburgsymphony.org.

Independence Day Festivities

July 4-6: Harrisburg marks the Fourth of July with a weekend full of activities throughout the city. On July 4, the celebration is centered in Reservoir Park, on July 5 on City Island and on July 6 at Italian Lake. All locations will feature a Family Fun Festival and free concerts. Fireworks are slated for July 5 along the riverfront. For more information, visit harrisburgpa.gov.

Declaration of Independence

July 4: Celebrate the holiday with the Historical Society of Dauphin County as re-enactor David Biser reads the Declaration of Independence from the porch of the John Harris Mansion. Readings will take place at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. Free parking will be available behind the mansion. For more information, call 717-233-3462, or visit dauphincountyhistory.org.

Fireworks Express

July 5: Join the Modern Transportation Partnership for a party while watching Harrisburg’s Independence Day fireworks from the greatest view in the region. Ticket prices include transportation, food, beverages and access to the event on the CAT Bridge over the Susquehanna. Complimentary beer and wine will be offered to those 21 and over. For tickets and more information, visit mtptransit.org.

Fredricksen Reads

July 8: Become a part of Fredricksen Reads, a series of book discussions at the Fredricksen Library, with the novel “The Big Burn” by Timothy Egan. The novel is about an inferno that burned through forests in Washington, Idaho and Montana in 1910. You must have read the book to attend. This free event begins at 7 p.m. For more information or to register, visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Stress Relief Walk

July 9: Relieve your stress with a three-mile, brisk walk along easy trails at Wildwood Park. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. This event is free and will begin at 6 p.m. For more information, visit wildwoodlake.org.

Business Networking Mixer

July 9: Join the Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Hetrick-Bitner, Geigle, and Smith funeral homes for a networking mixer. The event will take place 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Geigle Funeral Home, 2100 Linglestown Rd. This event is free for members and $10 for prospective members. Bring business cards and prepare a 30-second elevator speech. For more information or to register, visit cpglcc.org.

Hiring Our Heroes

July 10: Veterans and employers will have an opportunity to meet at this hiring event, which is being conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and other partners. An employment workshop, in which veterans can learn about resume writing, hiring fairs, military skill translation and interviewing will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the fair running 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place at Fort Indiantown Gap Armory, 880 Bearty Ave., Annville. For more information or to register, visit hiringourheroes.org or email [email protected].

Greater Harrisburg Concert Band

July 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27: The Greater Harrisburg Concert Band’s free summer performances this month are: July 11 at the Hampden Township Park and Pool Complex; July 13 at Schaffner Park in Hummelstown; July 18 at Messiah College; July 20 at Faith UCC in New Cumberland; July 25 at Cumberland Crossings in Carlisle; and July 27 in Messiah Village. Start time is 7 p.m. For more information, visit ghcb.org.

Flea Market

July 12: The annual Shipoke Flea Market and Bake Sale will take place 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. All are welcome to come and shop. If you wish to sell, contact Ellie Martindale at 238-7987. For more information, visit shipoke.org.

Detox Retox

July 12: Join Jess Bell at Federal Taphouse Harrisburg for a 75-minute yoga class for ages 21 and up at noon. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Your ticket purchase includes a $20 gift card to spend as you choose after the class. For tickets or more information, visit federaltaphousehbg.com.

Summer Concert Series

July 14: Head to the Fredricksen Library for a Concert on the Lawn with The Christopher Dean Band. The band covers songs by Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry, Al Green, Kool & The Gang and BB King and also will perform original songs. For more information, visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Writer’s Workshop

July 15, 22, 29: Children’s and young adult author Judy Wolfman will host three writing workshops at the East Shore Area Library, where young writers can find inspiration from pictures, jewelry, newspaper headlines and real-life events. This event is free and recommended for children ages 11 to 14. Registration is required. For more information or to register, visit dcls.org or call 717-652-9380.

Harrisburg Mile

July 16: Join the run down Front Street this year for the 33^rd annual Harrisburg Mile. This event begins at 6 p.m. at Front and Maclay streets in Harrisburg. For more information, visit harrisburgmile.com.

Business After Hours

July 17: Join the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC and Members 1^st Federal Credit Union to mingle with local business professionals and enjoy food and drinks. This is a free event. Registration is required. For more information, visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

3^rd in the Burg

July 18: Enjoy a night out on the town for Harrisburg’s monthly arts event, held each third Friday. Walk among numerous galleries, arts spaces, restaurants, and music venues—or hop the Sutliff shuttle for a free ride. Check the back cover of TheBurg for a list of venues and times or visit thirdintheburg.org.

Pride in the Park

July 19: Join the LGBTQ community and allies for a day at Hershey Park. Advance registration is required and includes admission to the park and an event T-shirt. For more information or to register, visit centralpalgbtcenter.org.

Summer Soiree

July 19: The third of five summer garden parties will be held to raise funds for the Art Association of Harrisburg programs. The Mechanicsburg Soiree will be held 5 to 8 p.m. at the home of Donna and Paul Nagle. Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. For more information, visit artassocofhbg.com.

Brewfest

July 19: Enjoy craft brews and food from local restaurants while listening to live music on the front lawn of Fort Hunter Mansion. The event will take place 3 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance, $50 at the door and $15 for designated drivers. For more information or to register, visit dauphincounty.org/government/parks-and-recreation.

Coffeehouse

July 25: Perry County Council of the Arts will hold its monthly coffeehouse at the Landis House, 7 to 9 p.m. Poets, musicians and storytellers are encouraged to perform original pieces. For details or to sign up to perform, call 717-567-7023 or visit perrycountyarts.org.

LOOP 5K

July 26: Fredricksen Library will hold its 9^th annual Loop 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run & Walk. Check-in and registration for the race and the Fun Run & Walk will begin at 7 a.m. with the 5K starting at 8:20 a.m. and the Fun Run beginning at 8:25 a.m. Registration fees are $25 from July 10 to the day of the race or $20 before July 9. For forms or more information, visit the Fredricksen Library or go to fredricksenlibrary.org.

Pride Festival

July 26: The annual Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania will be held in Riverfront Park and will have food, vendors, activities and live music. The event will take place 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost of entry is $8 and is free for children 12 and under. For more information, call 717-801-1830 or visit centralpalgbtcenter.org.

21^st Annual Nature and Arts Festival

July 26: Head to MYO Park and the Ned Smith Center for a free celebration of nature and the arts. Enjoy live music and programs on owls, native plants, honeybees, butterflies and more. This all-ages event will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with shuttle vans running between MYO Park and the Ned Smith Center throughout the day. For more information, visit nedsmithcenter.org.

Rock ‘n Roll Superstars

July 26: Musicians in such legendary bands as R.E.M., Blondie and the Fleshtones are coming to Midtown Harrisburg. They’ll play as members of the bands The Baseball Project, The Split Squad and The Minus 5, which all consist of veteran, nationally known musicians. Show begins at 9 p.m. at HMAC Stage on Herr, 1110 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. More information at harrisburgarts.com.

Bacon and Brew Ha Ha

July 27: Sample home-brewed beers and eat a variety of bacon-themed food at the Appalachian Brewing Co., 50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. The event will also feature an unofficial home brew contest and a bacon dish contest with winners selected by people’s choice. This is an all-ages event, and you must be 21 to drink. Admission is $30 for food and beer sampling and $15 dollars for food sampling only. Tickets can be purchased at greenbeltevents.com or at the door.

Putt Into the Park

July 31: Enjoy a round of mini golf, an all-you-can-eat picnic dinner and a Senators game on City Island. The event begins at 3 p.m. The cost is $20 for ages 17 and up, $15 for ages 11 to 16, and $10 for ages 10 and younger. For more information or to register, visit wschamber.org.

Spice Up the Grill: An American summer staple, an Italian twist.

June 30, 2014 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

Perhaps a barbeque grill is not the first thing you think of when preparing an Italian meal. But grilling is, in fact, a very important part of Italian country cooking.

In the Tuscan and Umbrian hills, the smell of smoke from wood ovens at the little trattorias permeates the crisp night air. These al fresco ovens cook thin crust pizzas, grilled meats, vegetables, fish and spiedini, the Italian version of shish kabob.

Italian grilling is not complicated. There are no heavy, sweet sauces to coat meat and chicken. Pizzas are topped with the simplest ingredients—some crushed plum tomatoes, slices of mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves. Fresh herbs and a little virgin olive oil are sufficient to make a superb marinade. And lemons are more than a garnish. They might be layered with swordfish or lamb cubes on a skewer where the grilling gives them a soft, gentle taste. Meats are often placed over piney rosemary branches, a favorite herb in the Italian countryside, where it can grow into a woody shrub of enormous size. Seasoning is good sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Although they are being marketed these days to home cooks for their outdoor kitchens, I will likely never have a wood-fired oven. So, I continue the struggle with my gas grill, which—as I wrote in a column last year—is certainly to blame for my occasionally overcooked food. But I have been trying new things this summer like grilling broccoli and garlic and zucchini slices with fresh oregano in a large, perforated basket I got from Williams and Sonoma. And an All-Clad meat thermometer, a present from our younger son, has really helped to gauge the right time to take meat off the grill (most of the time).

Grilling chicken remains a problem for me, especially boneless chicken breasts, which I am adept at turning into a consistency best described as leather-like. But I have found a wonderful chicken recipe from the well-known chef and restaurant owner, Mario Batali. His cookbook, “Mario Batali’s Italian Grill,”is a treasure for the home griller.

My favorite recipe from the collection is for “Chicken Thighs with Garlicky Crumbs.” It calls for boneless chicken thighs and a touch of anchovy that lends a hard-to-define spiciness. Even I have trouble drying these out! I served them for a summer party, and only one guest asked, “Where’s the white meat?” Trust me, you won’t miss it.

Mario Batali’s Garlicky Chicken Thighs

In a food processor, combine 4 oil-packed anchovies drained and chopped, 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs, 12 cloves smashed garlic, ½ cup chopped parsley and ½ cup olive oil. Process until blended.
Season 2½ pounds boneless chicken thighs with salt and toss them in a large bowl with the breadcrumb mixture. It’s OK to use your hands! Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Pre-heat your grill and then grill over moderate heat for 10 minutes per side. Test for doneness with a meat thermometer. Place on a platter garnished with some fresh herbs, parsley or watercress.

This dish is so easy and perfect for summer. It goes well with sliced tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Chef Batali pairs the chicken with sugar snap peas, but any green summer vegetable or salad will do.

This chicken is moist with a very distinct flavor. I cooked the thighs over some non-stick foil placed directly on the grill grates, a good way to salvage all the delicious crumbs.

So, with this recipe, I might have foiled my fire-spewing Weber gas grill. No octopus for me, but I may even try Mario’s grilled mussels before the summer ends.

The Surf Is Up: Island Breezes has survived floods, bad planning and broken government—and now is having one of its best years ever.

June 30, 2014 | by Ashleigh Pollart

Island Breezes, like City Island itself, has ridden a wave of great change over the past 30 years. The shop and café has been everything from a kite and toy shop to home to a Jimmy Buffet fan club and merchandise store to its current state as a café.

Built with the rest of RiverSide Village in the 1980s as part of former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed’s revitalization efforts, Island Breezes was purchased by current owners Melvin and Ann Marie Cross in 2001. The couple rebuilt and expanded the store in 2005 after it experienced massive flood damage.

“I saw a City Island business for sale in the Sunday paper, and I said to my husband ‘I think we need to buy that—it’ll give you something to do,’” said Ann Marie, laughing as she relived the story.

The other village shops that Harrisburg natives remember were torn down a few years ago after storeowners closed and the buildings became abandoned.

“Since the shacks have been removed, our foot traffic has been phenomenal,” Ann Marie said.

Island Breezes—which sells hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, funnel cakes, coffee, ice cream cones and even crafts—is so passionate about making RiverSide Village Park family-oriented that the owners actually lowered prices for this season. The handicapped-accessible and dog-friendly café focuses on building relationships with customers to continue to bring more visitors to City Island.

The shop owners and employees have literally watched their clientele grow up. One customer, Josh, has visited Island Breezes almost everyday for 15 years, said Ann Marie, who mentioned how wonderful it is to see returning families.

“We see a lot of women come in pregnant, and the next summer we get to meet their kids in a stroller,” she explained. “We get to meet a lot of interesting people and really watch them grow up.”

Island Breezes’ loyal employee, Tina Magaro-Lewis, explained her passion for what the café brings to the city.

“We want families to come here. It’s a happy, safe place and a safe ground for grandparents to bring their grandchildren because it’s contained,” she said while recounting stories of local visitors and returning customers from all over central PA.

The day of this interview, Island Breezes had even served international visitors from Canada and Great Britain who were staying in Harrisburg to visit Hershey or Gettysburg.

The family-friendly venue gives customers of all ages a reason to come together and enjoy the aesthetic view of Harrisburg’s skyline.

City Island, now an integral part of the state capital’s economy, was not always such a hub of activity. In its unfathomably long history, the 63-acre island has been used for everything from a home to local Native Americans to a venue for Metallica and Grateful Dead concerts, intermixed with periods of abandonment.

The 1970s may have been the low point, with the island then known largely for illicit activity that ranged from illegal dumping to drug dealing, along with the occasional rock concert. In addition, some grand plans—including a Sports Hall of Fame, a restaurant and sports bar—never materialized.

More recent challenges have included flooding and the city’s financial crisis, which made island maintenance spotty.

Visit today, however, and you’ll find that this once-neglected place has improved dramatically.

City Island now is home to the Harrisburg Senators, the Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat, marinas, miniature golf, batting cages, Susquehanna Outfitters and Harrisburg Carriage Co. In addition, the Harrisburg City Islanders recently announced a plan to greatly expand and improve its stadium.

Take the scenic walk across the Walnut Street Bridge today, or any warm day of the year, and you’ll find people making their way over the Susquehanna to run, walk, watch baseball and play volleyball, among a range of other activities.

Business-wise, Island Breezes hung in there while others around it closed and, with improving traffic on City Island, it’s now taking advantage of its place as a survivor.

“When you would see those shacks down there with broken windows, [City Island] visitors wouldn’t walk down through the village,” said Ann Marie. “Now, our business has done a complete turnaround.”

Mention this article at Island Breezes on your next visit to receive a complimentary small ice cream cone. The café is open daily from 10 a.m. to dusk during summer months.

A Ritch Life: Poet Jeremy Ritch has a voice—and he’s not afraid to use it.

June 30, 2014 | by Lori M. Myers

Jeremy Ritch, photo by Dani Fresh, www.danifresh.com

Being with artist, musician, poet/writer, blogger and former pastor Jeremy Ritch is easy.

Ask a question, sit back and listen; take it all in. No pressure. Ritch has a lot to say, and he doesn’t hold back.

He’s complex, has lived many lifetimes in quite a few places—Philadelphia, Atlanta and now Harrisburg. And while his beginnings date back 30-plus years to Cleveland, where he was “a white kid in a black neighborhood,” Ritch wouldn’t have it any other way. Those surroundings molded his passions, his concern and his yearning to speak out against injustice.

“My mom was open to people,” Ritch recalls. “She fed the kids in the neighborhood. I was very accepted, and it’s something that stays with you.”

Ritch’s mother was an artist, his father a bass player. Music was a mainstay in the home where Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Motown were played. Later, it was Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Ritch started to write songs and recognized the “poetry” of country music.

“I wrote a lot of music,” Ritch says. “As a kid, my identity was through music. Music was my biggest influence and became everything. It was a way to escape. In Cleveland, I listened to black music and started to learn about punk rock.”

Musically, Ritch is currently writing with local singer/songwriter Nina Scarcia.

His old neighborhood is gone now but not Ritch’s rebellious spirit—a spirit, he says, that has been redirected and re-harnessed into the written word. Case in point: his poem, “Philadelphia (Take Me Back),” begins with “Mad love to Philadelphia/Mean street Killadelphia/Straight Illadelphia…”—and ends with “That’s Philadelphia/Just Relax and Chilladelphia.”

“While I was in college, I was obsessed with Philadelphia,” he says. “There’s so much diversity there.”

Ritch’s love of cities is evident in his latest book of poems, “Sidewalk Stories and Other Poems,” recently published by Atlanta-based Autumn+Colour.

Growing up that white kid in a black neighborhood resulted in his respect for groundbreakers like Martin Luther King, Jr., and baseball player Jackie Robinson as evidenced in Ritch’s “#42 (A Poem For Jackie).”

“Show those ignorant folks that it is time for a new day/Where we judge by character not by skin/Jackie helped break that down and he also did win/He was at the top of the game as an elite player/Robinson helped to quiet the racist naysayer.”

“Jackie Robinson sacrificed a lot,” Ritch muses. “Many people don’t have a voice. I’m not the most appropriate voice, but I do have one.”

That voice echoes in his blog, which is a mix of his poetry and the columns he writes for today’s the day Harrisburg, where he points out the injustices faced by the less fortunate, particularly those living in urban areas like Harrisburg. One that he is particularly passionate about is ending the “war on drugs,” which, he says, has devastated poor communities for decades, especially the African American community. Another is prison reform and making sure sentencing is fair for minor crimes.

“There are generations of black men who have been destroyed by an unbalanced justice system and by the ‘three strikes’ rule that many states have,” Ritch says. “The poor of our country are devastated by unfair drug laws. It is fine to find the source of these drugs and go after that, but punishing users and small-time dealers with outrageous jail terms is a great injustice.”

While there are two sides to every story, Ritch only knows to relay any one story with honesty—an attribute he values greatly. For instance, he’ll tell you without hesitation what needs to be fixed in Harrisburg: The arts district is too spread out, Allison Hill needs attention, downtown needs more retail, and something should be done about all the abandoned buildings.

While the themes of Ritch’s work are hope and justice, he does like to sprinkle in a bit of comedy because he loves making people laugh.

Yes, musician, writer, blogger and a former “man of the cloth.” This rebel, this Harrisburg citizen who wants his city to be the best it can be, has planted his roots in our fair city and is sticking around a while. It’s never been easy, but that’s okay.

“Growing up, our family had a hard life,” he says. “My mother knew I was a strong kid. I’d call myself a survivor.”

Find out more about Jeremy Ritch’s life and work by visiting his blog: jeremymarkritch.wordpress.com. His work also can be read at www.todaysthedayhbg.com.

Person of Interest: Director Paul Haggis is out with a layered story about love. Or something.

June 30, 2014 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Years after “Crash” won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, writer/director Paul Haggis returns to his multiple-storyline structure with “Third Person,” a convoluted and slightly soap-operatic story about love.

Michael (Liam Neeson) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, holing himself up in Paris to write his latest manuscript about love. But Michael has the tendency to write his own life into his story—his journal is written in the third person to encourage inspiration—and the manuscript becomes dangerously personal, split into three different stories around the world that make up the film.

The first story is linked directly to Michael, as his lover, Anna (Olivia Wilde), flies over to see him on the construct that she wants him to read a story she’s been writing. Quickly, their secret affair is revealed to be based mostly on verbal (but occasionally physical) S&M, which makes more and more sense as we learn about Anna.

Next, we meet an altogether unlikeable character. Adrien Brody plays a mean-spirited crook who steals designs for his knockoff clothing company. He takes a business trip to Italy… though he never seems to meet with anyone about his business while there. He does, however, meet a young gypsy woman (Moran Atias), who enlists him to help pay ransom to get her 8-year-old daughter back from human traffickers.

The final story follows Julia (Mila Kunis) struggling to keep her head above water in New York as she fights a custody battle with her ex-husband (James Franco) after an incident that led to her indictment for putting her son in danger. A large dose of unlucky circumstances, combined with Julia’s inability to keep a job for more than a week or so, makes it even more difficult to win her son back.

These three stories begin to cross paths as the film progresses, in some ways unbelievably. In fact, a lot of the plot points in the story seem far-fetched, which detaches the audience from its characters, in turn causing some of the more dramatic moments to fall a little flat. And this, perhaps, can be written off with the idea that it’s a story within a story. Michael seems to want to write his problems away, and so these characters are more a form of writer’s therapy, ideas rather than people, helping Michael through his emotional turmoil. The same cannot be said for the film’s audience.

Out of this ensemble cast of celebrities, Kunis and Wilde give us the best performances. Both actresses artfully display an array of emotions that enable the audience to connect with their characters, despite some of the wonky plot points.

Ultimately, Michael gave each story a happy ending because he wanted a happy ending, and I suspect we can see the parallels to Haggis’ career. After a series of unmemorable projects, we see this writer/director in Michael’s character—but it remains to be seen whether he will get his happy ending.

We’ll leave that judgment up to you. “Third Person” will be playing at the Midtown Cinema. Come check it out!

Sammi Leigh Meliville is a staff member and film reviewer at the Midtown Cinema.

Midtown Cinema July Events

2^nd Saturday Morning Cartoons

7/12 9:30-11:30 am, Classic Looney Tunes

2^nd Sunday Foreign Series

7/13 4 pm, Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Lady Vanishes”

MLB All-Star Game

7/15 8 pm, the big game on the big screen, free.

LGBT Film Festival

7/12: 7 pm, “Milk”

7/13: 7 pm “Call Me Malcolm;” 7:15 pm “Love Free or Die;” 7:30 pm “Out in the Dark”

7/14: 6:30 pm “Call Me Malcolm;” 7 pm “Love Free or Die;” 7:30 pm “Out in the Dark”

7/15: 4:30 pm “Call Me Malcolm;” 5 pm “Love Free or Die;” 5:30 pm “The Wise Kids;” 7 pm “The New Black;” 7:30 pm “Out in the Dark”

3^rd in The Burg $3 Movie

7/18 about 9:30 pm, “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” with comedy improv stylists Down in Front! BYOB

3^rd Sunday, Down in Front!

7/20 7pm, Movie+Improv, “The Screaming Skull,” BYOB

“A Small Family Business”

7/20 4 pm & 7/21 7pm

Riotous comedy filmed live at the National Theatre in London; $20/$15 members

Moviate Night at MC

7/27 7pm, film TBA

“Iron Jawed Angels”

7/29 7pm, Harrisburg Area NOW presents the 2004 drama

Pet Smart: Q&A with Brett Miller, Chair of Harrisburg’s Animal Advisory Board.

June 29, 2014 | by Alexis Dow Campbell

There’s been some dog drama in Harrisburg over the last several years, but the city is taking steps to help remedy it. Last year, City Council enacted an anti-tethering ordinance, one of the strictest in the country, which limits the amount of time and the manner in which a dog may be tethered. Now, Mayor Eric Papenfuse has created an Animal Advisory Board.

Last month, we caught up with animal advocate Brett Miller, who is serving as chair of the board. We wanted to know why this board was needed and what it hopes to accomplish.

TheBurg: What is your background relating to animal causes?

Brett Miller: I’ve been advocating for animals for many years and have been a volunteer fundraiser at the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, a citizen lobbyist for the Humane Society of the United States, Central Pennsylvania Coordinator for Humane PA (the political action committee for animals in Pennsylvania) and worked briefly for the (state) Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement when the new Dog Law was passed. That experience really opened my eyes to not only what goes on in puppy mills, but, even when a new law gets passed, it all comes down to enforcement. I’m happy to see now, under the direction of Kristen Donmoyer, that the Dog Law Enforcement Office is doing a much better job of enforcing the law.

TheBurg: What are the basic goals of the new task force?

Brett Miller: Our mission is to advocate for animal welfare, educate the community and serve as advisors to city government on effective humane practices. Some of our goals are to increase awareness about the importance of dog licensing to help reduce the number of strays ending up at the Humane Society or elsewhere, making sure pets are up to date on rabies vaccines and spaying/neutering of pets, as well as ensuring enforcement of the city’s animal control ordinances, including the anti-tethering ordinance that was passed last year. All dogs three months of age and older must be licensed, and residents can obtain a dog license by filling out an application. Also, spay/neuter vouchers are available to city residents through the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, and low-cost vaccine clinics are also available through HSHA and the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance.

TheBurg: What are the most common problems relating to animals in Harrisburg?

Brett Miller: Stray dogs, stray cats, backyard breeding, dog fighting, tethering.

TheBurg: What are some things that average citizens can do to help?

Brett Miller: Making sure their pets are spayed/neutered, staying up-to-date on vaccines and being current on their dog licenses.

June News Digest

June 29, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

School Tax Unchanged

The Harrisburg school board last month kept the school portion of the local property tax unchanged, as it reported a rare budget surplus.

The board unanimously passed a $133 million budget for the 2014-15 school year that retains the tax rate at 27.92 mills. School property tax bills will go out this month.

Recently, school property taxes have increased each year, as the board has struggled with recurring budget deficits. However, Gene Veno, the district’s chief recovery officer, announced last year that a financial analysis had discovered an unexpected surplus of about $12 million.

In addition, the board announced last month that it would reinstitute full-day kindergarten for the coming school year. Two years ago, kindergarten was cut to half-day after being threatened with elimination entirely.

The board also reappointed school Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney to another four-year term. Her base salary will remain unchanged at $160,000 per year.

Lastly, the board unanimously denied the revised application of Key Charter School, which had hoped to open in the former site of Bishop McDevitt High School at 2200 Market St. in Harrisburg. The board cited numerous deficiencies in the application in such areas as curriculum, student assessment and staff training.

Zoning Code Effort Revived

Harrisburg has revived a long-dormant effort to re-haul its aged zoning code, with a City Council vote expected early this month.

Council last month began discussing the code in a committee meeting, after which two public input sessions were held. A final vote on the new code is slated for the July 8 legislative session.

The effort to revamp the city’s zoning code began about five years ago to try to streamline and simplify a code that had become overly complex and even obsolete, according to the city. Over the years, the code, originally passed in 1950, had grown to include 27 base zoning districts and six overlay districts. The new code includes just nine base districts and four overlay districts.

After a year of work by Harrisburg’s planning bureau, City Council introduced the new code in 2010, but never acted on it. The code, with just a few adjustments, now has been reintroduced as the 2014 Zoning Code draft.

In a separate effort, Harrisburg also is in the process of developing a comprehensive plan for the city.

Task Force Meets

The Harrisburg Strong Task Force has held two meetings so the public could comment on a future nonprofit that will decide how to spend the city’s dedicated infrastructure and economic development funds.

The 10-member task force met twice at the Greater Harrisburg Area YWCA, briefing the public on its mission and asking for input. Ideas from the audience ranged from fixing sinkholes to fighting blight to helping employ youth.

The task force now will draft a governance structure and action plan that will guide the work of a future non-profit corporation that will disburse money earmarked exclusively for improving Harrisburg’s infrastructure and boosting its economic development efforts.

The Harrisburg Strong financial recovery plan created two funding silos, each for $6 million, for these two purposes. The future nonprofit will allocate money after judging the worthiness of projects and their ability to raise matching funds.

311 Number Confirmed

Harrisburg is on track to have a new 311 information system for non-emergency government services, thanks to the state Public Utility Commission’s approval of a city petition to administer the three-digit dialing code.

The 311 code, which will be restricted to Harrisburg residents, will connect callers to a centralized, automated directory of city services. Under the existing system, residents either would need to look up the numbers of individual city departments or, as often happened, would simply dial 911 with non-emergency calls, tying up the county’s dispatchers.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse recommended the adoption of a 311 system during his campaign for office last year. In March, the city submitted a petition to the PUC, which announced its approval following a 5-0 vote by its commissioners.

Papenfuse added that certain infrastructure upgrades necessary for running the system were well underway. In the next few months, the city expects to replace its phone system with one that will be able to accommodate 311 calls.

Summer in the City

The Dauphin County regional tourism bureau has budgeted close to $100,000 for Harrisburg’s “Summer in the City” promotional campaign, an effort to market the city’s summer cultural offerings on billboards, buses and the Web, city officials announced Friday.

The campaign highlights such events as the “Harrisburg Independence Weekend Walkaround,” a three-day program of festivities scheduled for the July 4 weekend. The full program, which can be viewed at Stayandplayhbg.com, includes free concerts in city parks, “family fun” festivals, a martial arts tournament and a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

The campaign will be promoted on area billboards as well as on each bus in Capital Area Transit’s 80-bus fleet. The Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau hired Top Flight Media, an advertising agency headquartered on Lindle Road in Swatara Township, to design the campaign.

Funding for the marketing campaign comes from the county’s hotel tax, a levy on overnight lodging that was raised from 3 percent to 5 percent in 2008. According to county ordinance, a portion of hotel tax revenues—about 13 percent—is to be spent on “appropriate and reasonable marketing and promotional expenses” for tourism in Harrisburg.

New Manager for Market

The Broad Street Market last month hired Ashlee O. Dugan, a member of the market corporation’s board and the founder of a local food-recovery organization, as its newest full-time interim manager.

She replaced Len Cobosco from the Camp Hill accounting firm Carey Associates, who came on as an interim manager in June 2013. Cobosco will remain employed by the market as a part-time financial manager, board members confirmed.

Officially, the position is transitional, since the market’s operations and organizational structure are still under review by the Broad Street Market Task Force. The market may open the search for a permanent manager again following the task force’s recommendations, Dugan said.

Amy Hill, a volunteer board member doing public relations outreach for the market, noted that Dugan has a “legacy connection” to the market. Dugan’s great-grandfather, Gilbert S. Miller, operated a butcher stand at the market from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s.

Previously, Dugan served as a membership and marketing coordinator at the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. She also is the founder of The Greenhouse, an organization with the goal of locating and saving food that might otherwise go to waste.

The Broad Street Market has gone through numerous managers over the past few years. For more about its history and the efforts of the task force, read our feature in the April issue (“A Simple Plan,” p.14).

Fire Bureau Gets FEMA Grant

The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire last month received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant of $114,840.

The grant will provide for advanced training and education of firefighters and fire officers in the bureau, said Acting Chief Brian Enterline.

“This grant was successfully obtained due to the collaboration and dedication of the city’s grants manager and some young brilliant firefighters and fire officers that are eager to rebuild the Bureau of Fire,” Enterline said.

He added that, over the coming year, firefighters and fire officers will attend classes that offer training and education in areas such as technical rescue, nationally certified fire officer and firefighter safety.

“These classes are essential for keeping our firefighters safe and expanding their knowledge in many aspects of firefighting,” Enterline stated.

The primary goal of the grant is to meet the emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, the grant has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources to help protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2474: M. & B. Sumy to M. Jones, $58,000

Allison Ct., 6: T. Pham to 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC, $38,000

Benton St., 600: A. Allegrini c/o J. Chubb to T. Griffin, $114,900

Benton St., 631: Fannie Mae to PA Deals LLC, $50,000

Berryhill St., 2306: T. Vo to Jiang Brothers Realty LLC, $40,000

Berryhill St., 2321: R. & L. Mason to L. Chen, $270,000

Berryhill St., 2437: J. Howarth to C. Still, $54,000

Briggs St., 231: J. Theurer et al to C. Natcher & J. McCadney, $92,500

Brook St., 346: Kirsch & Burns LLC to LMK Properties LLC, $31,200

Chestnut St., 2114: T. Cubitt to S. Felmlee & R. Church, $169,000

Duke St., 2433: P. Bui to 2013 Central PA Real Estate Fund LLC, $45,000

Duke St., 2622: PI Capitol LLC & J. Pierce to J. Conjar, $116,000

Forster St., 123: M. Warden to Heit Holdings LLC, $345,000

Forster St., 1815: Trusted Source Capital LLC to Blackscotch LLC, $30,000

Fulton St., 1705: Cartus Financial Corp. to R. Dickinson, $125,000

Green St., 1400: T. Wiestling to P. Misivich, $119,000

Green St., 1928: R. Riley & K. Stutzman to M. & S. Young, $205,000

Green St., 2223: C. Barner to J. & B. Readinger, $50,000

Harris St., 212: E. McKee to R. Evanchak, $136,000

Herr St., 1933: J. Kim to Bajwa & Rana LLC, $250,000

Hoffman St., 3100: B. Cates to A. Bhatti, $154,900

Hummel St., 203: Vitosh Investment Group LLC to Brethren Housing Assoc., $73,000

Kelker St., 218: Integrity Bank to C. Proctor & J. Mesa Cruz, $114,500

Kensington St., 2364: PA Deals LLC to M. & D. Graeff, $68,000

Kensington St., 2422: L. Schroeder to PA Deals LLC, $43,500

Locust St., 110 & 112: Mid Penn Bank to Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, $140,000

Midland Rd., 2401: D. Hollinger to J. & L. Arnold, $155,000

N. 2^nd St., 2437: D. Powell to C. Dove, $41,500

N. 4^th St., 2144: Kirsch & Burns LLC to LMK Properties LLC, $33,967

N. 14^th St., 322: D. Boyle to G. Lopez Figueroa, $30,000

N. 18^th St., 800, 1716 North St., 1717 North St., 1820 North St., 1913 Forster St. & 1915 Briggs St.: Shokes Enterprises LLC to JDP 2014 LLC, $499,000

N. Front St., 17: Association of County Commissioners to Harrisburg Building & Grounds Co., $525,000

Reily St., 219: PA Deals LLC to S. Briffa, $109,900

Royal Terr., 135: PA Deals LLC to S. Maurer, $38,500

S. 14^th St., 400: J. Rodriguez to R. Rodriguez, $40,000

S. 18^th St., 31 & 33: N. Grove to Capital City Investment Properties LLC, $67,500

S. 25^th St., 615: R. Pursel & Keystone Guardianship Services to 2013 Central PA Real Estate Fund LLC, $42,250

S. Cameron St., 443: P. Dobson to F. & D. Miller, $100,000

S. Cameron St., 1607: J. & R. Mallonee to I. Claytor, $61,900

S. Cameron St., 1660: Bemar Enterprises to D&F Complex on Cameron LP, $281,000

State St., 1935 & 1937 State St.: W. Kyles to C. Johnson, $112,000

Susquehanna St., 2142: FTM Properties LLC to A. Moore, $88,000

Verbeke St., 112: Random Properties Acquisition Corp. III to PA Deals LLC, $46,250

Verbeke St., 340: 44 Breed Street Nominee Trust & F. Ciccone to Historic Holdings LLC, $380,000

Vernon St., 1553: D. Boyle to J. Rodriguez, $30,000

Washington St., 111: Sirva Relocation Credit LLC to C. Altman, $129,000

Harrisburg property sales for May 2014, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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